Travel Tips

Baggage Fees Creeping Onto International Flights

Locations in this article:  Chicago, IL

Travelers rushing through airportInternational flights used to be a fee-free zone, but with more and more airlines starting to charge for bags on these routes, many are wondering “what’s next?”

Baggage fees used to be solely the domain of domestic U.S. flights, but recently most of the major U.S. airlines quietly began charging for the privilege on select overseas routes.

So which airlines now have international baggage fees and more importantly, which airlines don’t?

American Airlines announced last Friday that it would impose a $50 fee for the second checked bag on flights between the U.S. and India, the Caribbean, and eight European countries. The fee goes into effect for tickets purchased on or after September 14.

Get the facts on lost bags with New Report Estimates Over 40 Million Bags Lost Worldwide Annually. Then get Tips for Not Losing Your Luggage. Or get more information on this topic with our Luggage & Packing section.

Delta also charges a second-bag fee on European flights, and US Airways and Continental both charge passengers headed to Latin America. US Airways charges $15 for the first bag and $25 for the second, while Continental charges $25 for the second bag.

United is the only major U.S. airline to not charge an overseas baggage fee, though a company spokesman says they are “studying” the issue. Foreign-flagged airlines also do not charge in most cases.

lost luggageMost U.S. airlines exempt elite members of their frequent flier programs from the fees, as well as passengers in first and business classes, those with full-fare coach tickets and active U.S. military personnel.

This development does not bode well for the future, according to airline industry experts, many of whom believe that it’s just a matter of time before passengers will be hit with fees for food, water and blankets. Currently passengers are only charged for alcohol on international routes.

Analysts explain that since the fees garner relatively little pushback from customers (there are exceptions, of course) but are such a huge source of revenue for airlines, they will continue to impose them to boost their bottom line.

According to data from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, the 10 largest U.S. airlines collected $566.3 million in baggage fees during the first quarter of 2009, and the total for all airlines amounted to $1.5 billion in 2008.

Check out how one traveler got revenge on an airline for his baggage troubles, and became an Internet sensation in the process:

Airplane blue skyMany savvy travelers are figuring out ways to avoid baggage fees. For example, code-share flights that are marketed by foreign airlines but operated by U.S. carriers generally do not charge baggage fees.

Some hotels are even offering to pick up the tab as an incentive to draw in customers. Kimpton Hotels has a promotion called “We Got Your Bag” which offers a credit up to $25 toward the second checked bag fee (with certain restrictions).

Other alternatives: fly United or a foreign carrier like Lufthansa – or just bring a carry-on only. Packing light has become something of a cottage industry over the last year, with numerous books, articles and Web resources becoming available to help fliers learn how to streamline their stuff.

By Karen Elowitt for PeterGreenberg.com.

Related links: MSNBC, Chicago Tribune, USA Today, CNN, Kimpton Hotels

Don’t miss our Luggage & Packing section for more information.